| Blind Island Marine State Park | |
|---|---|
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.jpg) Blind Island | |
  Location in the state of Washington Show map of Washington (state) Blind Island Marine State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | San Juan County, Washington, United States |
| Nearest city | Anacortes, Washington |
| Coordinates | 48°35′05″N122°56′13″W / 48.58472°N 122.93694°W /48.58472; -122.93694[1] |
| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 26 ft (7.9 m)[1] |
| Established | 1970 |
| Administered by | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Official website |
Blind Island Marine State Park is a public recreation area consisting of the entirety ofBlind Island, anisland of less than 3 acres (1.2 ha) at the entrance toShaw Island'sBlind Bay inSan Juan County,Washington.[3] The island lies one-third of a mile west of the Shaw Island ferry terminal and has 1,280 feet (390 m) of saltwater shoreline.[4] The park is cooperatively managed by theU.S. Bureau of Land Management and Washington State Parks and is part of theSan Juan Islands National Monument.[5][6]
In the late 1800s, a man named John Fox homesteaded the island and built a small house and storage sheds.[2] Fox was an immigrant from Germany, where he had made his living as a fisherman.[citation needed] After his divorce from Katherine Fox Dickman,[citation needed] he moved to the island where he lived as a fisherman and tilled a small garden spot, evidence of which still remains today. He died in 1934 at the age of 83 and was buried on Blind Island.[7] Fox's son, also named John, lived alone on the island until the mid-1960s when he was moved to a nursing home.[7] He died inOak Harbor, Washington in 1971.[7] The Foxes dug several holes into the rock, evidently to be used ascisterns. There is a small spring, around which a concrete retainer was built that is still in place.[8] There is no potable water on the island.[3]
The island became a state park in 1970 under lease from the BLM.[2] All buildings were removed in 1972 due to their unsafe condition.[4]
As a stop on theCascadia Marine Trail, the island's campsites are restricted to visitors arriving in non-motorized watercraft.[8] Activities include observing the abundant wildlife and the frequent passing of ferries.[3][9]
